Kybella®

Before the FDA’s approval, removing excess fat from the central area under a patient’s chin could only be done with liposuction or a face/neck lift. Both are invasive treatments that require more recovery time for the best results. Kybella presents an effective non-surgical alternative to achieve the same results. This is the first injectable treatment to get approval from the FDA that allows plastic surgeons to reduce the submental fat underneath the chin.

Results during clinical trials showed that the amount of fat under the chin was significantly reduced by Kybella injections. Patients had better chin contour and the look of a double chin diminished. Its effectiveness is from deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the human body, which isolates submental fat cells underneath the chin. These fat cells are destroyed without causing damage to surrounding tissue and cells. Acting like a syringe, the targeted fat cells that are destroyed are absorbed and eliminated naturally from the body.

At the Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute in Fairfax, Virginia, treatments work gradually. Therefore, patients will notice that their double chin gets smaller over time.

Kybella® Treatment

Before the doctor begins treating the submental area with Kybella, he will numb the area with local anesthesia and/or a cream. Injection treatments are virtually painless. Similar to receiving filler or Botox® injections, Kybella is injected into the area that contains the fat. Most treatments take approximately 15 to 20 minutes.

Patients receive up to 50 injections in a single treatment of Kybella. The dosage is 0.2 mL each, spaced a 1-cm intervals. Typically, only a maximum of six single 50-injection Kybella treatments can occur not less than one month apart. Individual characteristics and goals of each patient determine whether multiple treatments are necessary. For most patients, results are visible after two or four treatment sessions.

After treatment, some patients might experience swelling, redness, mild bruising, mild pain or numbness. These side effects usually resolve within a few days. Over-the-counter pain medication or ice can usually ease any discomfort patients may feel. In rare instances, some patients might also have an injury to the marginal mandibular nerve, which is only temporary. Kybella treatments are best performed in a licensed, expert facility for cosmetic surgery procedures.

During clinical trials, some patients had dysphagia, which is difficulty swallowing. These cases were spontaneous with a 1-81 day range. The median time frame was three days. Those patients with a prior history or current condition of dysphagia were excluded from the clinical trials.